5) With Pi adapting to his new life, he is beginning to experience things he has never experienced before. For instance, when flying fish attack the life boat, although with some hesitation, Pi traps one and breaks its neck. Pi becomes more and more indifferent to various aspects around him, which makes us realize that he is very much changing. In some ways, his behaviour can start to be related to an animal. In which ways do you feel that Pi’s behaviour is transforming?
Civilization versus savagery is a theme I have started to investigate throughout the novel, and I believe that this particular theme will just keep growing size as the novel progresses. Pi Patel comes from a civilized, or a somewhat civilized, city, and his parents are civilized as well. Civilization is…show more content… The reason that Pi is civilized is because he is surrounded by his family and others who are civilized, and they are surrounded by other civilized people, and so forth. When Pi was thrown onto the life boat with four animals, his civilization was in big trouble. Animals are not civilized beings. In fact, most animals are very close to exhibiting savagery traits. This is shown when the hyena on the life boat feeds on the zebra when it goes desperate and hungry. It is shown even more in depth when the hyena bites of the orangutan’s head, despite the orangutan being a mother in deep grief, and a harmless creature if not bothered. Pi, however, is no longer surrounded by civilization, and instead now has Richard Parker, the lion, to keep him company. What is very shocking to me is how fast a civilized person can start to change their behavior when apart from civilization. After spending only about a week or so with Richard Parker, Pi begins to exhibit the qualities of an animal, and even begins to act like one. For instance, when flying fish surround the life raft,
